Chemical strategies for 3D printable biomaterials

The advancement of 3D printing additive manufacturing processes allowed to fasten the research in tissue engineering and 3D advanced in vitro models. The availability of different printing technologies, together with the study of extracellular matrix (ECM) role and composition in tissue homeostasis and pathologies represents a unique opportunity to expand the building of new functional cellularized constructs able to replicate tissue morphology, architecture, and functionality. The ability to mimic at the best ECM microenvironment includes the opportunity to synthesize artificial ECM mimetics with the tailored structural and biochemical role. Here in this chapter, the most employed biopolymers and the chemical strategies to produce functional inks personalized for different tissues are reported.